Method and apparatus for treating web material



Nov. 29, 1966 J. YUNGHAHN 3,287,815

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING WEB MATERIAL Filed Dec. 5. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MOTOR 43W I INVENTOR. RICHARD J. YUN GHAHN ii/w ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1966 R. J. YUNGHAHN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING WEB MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

G Q U J m A M H mm L'u R 6549 2 52\!+ T 57 O 50 was J ATTORNEY 3,287,815 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 3,287,815 METHOD AND APPARATUS FGR TREATING WEB MATERIAL Richard J. Yunghahn, Bernardsville, N1, assignor to Midland-Ross (Zorporation, Cleveland, (Dhio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 328,319 8 Claims. (Cl. 34-7 This invention relates to improvements in method and apparatus for processing, for example, such as the heat treatment of thread webs or web materials of paper, tetxile fabric or tow and whether made of regenerated cellulosics, natural fibers, or synthetics.

More particularly, this invention provides for a heat treating apparatus adapted to desirably heat treat, bake, set or dry a tow of synthetic fibers; or, paper finish applied on one side only or on both; to set or bake, or dry fabric prints; and, further, to subject fabric or tow of thermoplastic fibers to a stretch or setting treatment. Whatever the material needing temperature treatment, the apparatus of this invention is adapted to handle it progressively, rapidly in the same chamber or in other immediately adjacent similar, plural compartments. The material can be temperature treated and cooled in a single pass or, where a longer treatment may be necessary, in further passes, meanwhile it is handled so as to avoid harm from scorching, ignition, overcuring or undesirable plasticization, etc. These and other lesser difliculties are advantageously controlled through the flexible apparatus of this invention.

The avoidance of the mentioned possible injuries and economical, fast and efficient treatment caused development of various means to overcome them. Different type heating chambers or ovens have been proposed wherein passing material is subjected to heat by impingement of flames, or radiant heat from electrical sources, or actual contact with heated platens. Responsiveness as to flexibility, temperature change, graduated control of a treatment or of an effective drying process is a requirement and the apparatus to be herein described advantageously and substantially provides for such. Highly desirable simplicity and flexibility is attained through the use of an impervious curtain means adapted to be quickly interposed to temper the effect on the web and to enable a quick progressive exposure of the treated material to the gases, which are in constant supply for immediate and total use. Most conditions can be substantially immediately corrected and the processed material safeguarded by a quick, partial or full interposition of a heat blocking curtain while simultaneously admitting or exposing the material to cooling gases. Means are also provided for manipulating such a gas stopping and heat resisting draw curtain, quickly maneuvering it continuously selectively between the impinging gas sources and the material being heated; placing or interposing the curtain at positions dictated by desired conditions in particular zones or stages giving required ultimate characteristics.

The simplicity of the method and apparatus and its advantages to improved control will be more thorougl1- ly described in the following specification taken with the accompanying drawing, where:

FIGURE 1 represents in diagrammatic elevation a single pass heat treating apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a section of FIGURE 1 taken across line 22;

FIGURE 3 is a modification of the section of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic elevation of a doublepass apparatus of the type of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing, a treated paper web 10,

having, for example, a coating of a clay solution, is directed through a drying chamber 15 over spaced terminal rolls 11, 12. The web supporting rolls 11, 12 are positioned on the exterior of the chamber 15 and the web 10 travels therethrough through slotted end openings 13, 14.

While moving through the chamber 15, the paper web 10 is subjected to a progressively controlled temperature treatment or drying treatment, as required and designed to set or dry the clay application given it. Since, in instances, such an application is on one side only, the treated side is desirably subjected to the temperature treatment.

The web 10 is subjected to hot gases, as shown, as it passes upwardly through the chamber 15, the gases emanating from spaced distributing outlets or nOZZles 17, 18, 19 of separated manifolds 21, 22 and 23 respectively. For controlling the temperature of the paper web treatment, there is positioned between the manifolds and the web 10 a curtain 25 of substantially impervious heat resisting material, including asbestos fibers, glass, etc., or of such other materials either synthetic or natural that can be used. Also, the material can be desirably woven tightly to form such a substantially impervious cover which can readily deflect the gases when it is drawn over the gas outlets. The curtain 25 is of sufficient width to cover the manifolds and substantially completely deflect the gases from the traveling web It It is positioned by the rotation of supporting drums 26, 27 (or wheels, or pulleys) located at the base and top of the manifolds. Also, it is of a length to adequately occlude or stop the hot gases from impinging on the web 10. It can be supported as shown or in any desirable manner, its position encompassing the end drums 26, 27, or pulleys, in driving chain links 29 positioned at the curtains sides and moving in receiving pulleys or sprockets of the drums.

As shown, the lower manifold 21 is exposed, the curtains 25 being drawn up, the gases impinging the Web 10 for about half the travel within the chamber 15. Heat treatment from this manifold alone also can be advantageously tempered, as will be explained. The heat stopping curtain 25, as shown in FIGURE 1, is drawn opposite the upper manifolds 22, 23 preventing further direct hot gas impingement of the already heated web. The return air is drawn off above the top or in back (or as desired) of. the curtain drum 27, as necessary, through a controlled exhaust 30, and through exhaust 42 above drum or roll 39. Opposing the manifolds 21, 22, 23 are equal sized rigid manifolds 31, 32, 33 emitting cooler gases or air through nozzles 34, 35, 36, respectively, for heat tempering purposes. A pair of drums 38, 39 are located below and above the manifold group carrying about them a simililarly supported temperature resisting and gas deflecting curtain 40. Curtain 40 is also positioned and supported about the drums 38, 39, or pulleys, as its opposite curtain 25 in side chains 41 operating in sprockets so as to cover an opposite but lower, equally sized manifold. As desired, then, while the web is being heated, cooling gases can be deflected until required.

It may be preferred that the upper hot gas supply be divided into a plurality of manifolds 22, 23 in that they can be individually regulated so that an extended and built-up heat area can be controlled rather than deflecting gases from nozzles of an enlarged manifold.

Generally, the web 10 is cooled after a heat treatment and this is readily done in the upper section of the chamber 15 where the heat is deflected by the curtain 25 while the tempering gases from cooling manifolds 32, 33 play on the web. Of course, the lower cooling gases from manifold 31 are occluded or prevented by the curtain 4t from impinging the web 19. Where a treatment for a longer period is required, the curtain 25 is rotated out of the way of the manifold nozzles 18, 19 to a greater extent or completely While the oppositely positioned curtain 40 is drawn over additional tempering or cooling air nozzles 35, 36. Generally and preferably, the rotation of the curtains 25, 49, once their position has been determined, is in the same direction, the one exposes the hot gases to the traveling Web while the other prevents cooling gases from impingement of the web and vice-versa. And, depending on travel rate of the web material or its stoppage in the chamber, the heating gases can be entirely deflected by a'curtain 25 over all the'nozzles 17, 19. Motor means 43, including gearing as shown, can be readily provided for the rotation of the upper drums 27 and/or 39 for moving the curtains in predetermined senses and positions. In turn, the motor means 43 can be tied into a conventional temperature responsive relay system (generally shown) responsive to a temperature sensing device '74 placed in a desirable position in the chamber 15. Also, web speed can govern the position of the curtains and this arrangement (not shown) can be readily made, the heat producing nozzles occluded while the cooling nozzles being entirely open. The device 74 will actuate motor 43 through leads 75' to position the curtain or curtains 25, 4%}. Power is derived by closing of power switch 76.

To the extent of the length of the manifolds, either hot or cold, the screens or curtains 25', 49 can be positioned in side supported channels or guides. This sometimes may be desirable Where the hot or cold or both gases are supplied at substantial velocities and Where dilution is not desirable or where there is a requirement for their recirculation. Such an arrangement is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The curtains 25, 40 by being passed or guided in provided channels 44, 45 serve to prevent any substantial intermingling of the gases in the treating chamber 15. Again, should only one side of a Web be subjected to a treatment or where a Web is of imperforate material as a paper web or board, the web itself can be passed through side-supported channels or guides 47, as in FIGURE 3, and thus separate the chamber substantially completely, the hot from the cool side. The controls for the curtains if so desired can also be manual and the movement of each be had by hand wheels (not shown) to provide for a variation in treatment of different materials.

Further advantages lie in the utilization of the nozzle deflecting impervious curtain Where an extended heat treatment of a web is had as in controlling the stretch set of the thermoplastic fiber tow. The tow can be conducted through a two or more pass chamber which can be divided by means of an intermediate wall having a passage for the tow therethrough. Also, the gas supplying manifolds can be extended single units with pluralities of nozzles. More specifically, the two-pass arrangement shown in FIGURE 4 can be used, flexibly as a double continuous heat tempering unit. The tow or web 50 is admitted into the first section of the chamber 51 through a slotted entry 52, passing between a hot gas manifold 53 having a plurality of nozzles 54 and manifold 55 with nozzles 56, being conducted therethrough by supporting and conveying roll 57 at the entry and roll 58 at the top or exit. About each manifold 53, 55 is rotated a curtain 59, 6t) (supported as hereinbefore described) for deflecting gas from a predetermined number of nozzles or from all of them, giving desired treating temperatures. The curtains can be moved simultaneously, if desired, by a motor driven gear means 62 once their respective positions for predetermined operation are determined.

The web 50, then, is passed through on opening 63 of a chamber divider 61 over a duplicate pair of web supporting drums 64, 65, upper and lower respectively, and between duplicate, opposing, hot and cold gas manifolds 66, 67. Again, the positions of curtains 73, 90 in deflecting or admitting gas from nozzles 68', 69, are initially predetermined for desired temperature treatments so that their movements are correlated. Their position can be desirably altered by a motor and gear apparatus 76. The motor units 62 and can be, if so desired, synchronized to act as a unit (not shown). Each actuating motor unit can be made responsive to the temperature of its chamber through a temperature sensitive means 78 or 81, the curtains being positioned in accordance with temperature desired in either section of the chamber 51 or, of course, in the proximity of the web itself in an area that will be most affected. Motor gear unit 62 is responsive to temperature sensitive means 78, being connected thereto through leads W; and motor unit 79 is responsive to the temperature sensitive means 81 through leads 82. Power is provided through actuation of switches 80, 33 respectively.

Gases from either section of the treating chamber 51 can be purged or exhausted through outlets 71, '72 or they can be recirculated and reheated where desirable. A web passing through the chamber 51 can be thus subjected to a variable tempering treatment by manipulation of the curtains relative to their respective manifolds. The movement of the curtains also can be desirably made to start and stop with the Web material. Upon starting to pass through the treatment chamber, the curtains can be made to take their position, and upon a stopping of the web, the curtains again will assume a position of safeguard.

In the example herein shown and described, the curtains are mounted for full circular movement about the manifolds. Instead of the circular mounting, the curtains can be drawn up and down over the manifolds as an ordinary window shade or a door lift, simply winding itself up into a spring actuated coil and drawn therefrom by pulling.

What is claimed is:

1. The method for heat processing a web material by subjecting it to tempering gases comprising, passing said material between opposing material impinging gases, one a heating gas and the other a cooling gas, and deflecting one while permitting the other to reach said material to thus provide the treatment desired.

2. The method for heat processing a web material by subjecting it to tempering gases comprising, passing said material between opposing material impinging gases, one a heating gas and the other a cooling gas, and partially deflecting one while simultaneously correspondingly partially permitting the other to reach said material to thus provide the treatment desired.

3. The method for heat processing a moving web material by subjecting it to tempering gases comprising, passing said material between opposing material impinging gases, one a heating gas and the other a cooling gas, deflecting one while permitting the other to reach said material to thus provide the treatment desired and totally deflect-ing the heating gas when Web movement is stopped.

4. A web processing apparatus including a chamber wherein said web is adapted to be subjected to tempering gases, positioned hot and cold gas supply manifolds spaced and opposing each other having pluralities of gas outlets in said chamber, means for advancing a web between said manifold outlets, said web in passing between said manifolds being adapted to be subjected to gas impingement from said outlets, movable impervious gas deflecting curtains adapted to be selectively positioned relative the outlets of each of said opposing manifolds being supported between said web and said manifolds, and means for movably supporting each of said curtains relative the respective outlets.

5. A web processing apparatus including a chamber wherein said web is adapted to be subjected to tempering gases, positioned hot and cold gas supply manifolds spaced and opposing each other having pluralities of gas outlets in said chamber, means for advancing a web between said manifolds outlets, said web in passing between said manifolds being adapted to be subjected to gas impingement from said outlets, movable impervious gas deflecting curtains adapted to be selectively positioned relative the outlets of each of said opposing manifolds being supported between said web and said manifolds, means for movably supporting each of said curtains relative the respective manifold outlets for preventing gas impingement of the passing web, and said means being responsive to a predetermined condition in said chamber movably relatively positioning said curtains with respect to each of said manifolds.

6. A web processing apparatus including a chamber wherein said web is adapted to be subjected to tempering gases, positioned hot and cold gas supply manifolds spaced and opposing each other having pluralities of gas outlets in said chamber, means for advancing a web between said manifolds and their outlets, said web in passing between said manifolds being adapted to be subjected to gas impingement from said outlets, movable impervious gas deflecting curtains adapted to be predeterminedly selectively positioned relative to their respective manifolds, said curtains being supported for movement between said web and said manifolds about rotatable supports, said supports being in said chamber and positioned at the manifold ends, means for rotating said supports and said curtains relative the respective manifold outlets for preventing gas impingement of the passing web, and said means being responsive to a predetermined condition in said chamber movably relatively positioning said ourtains with respect to each of said manifolds.

7. A web processing apparatus including a chamber having at least two compartments wherein said web is adapted to be subjected to hot and cold tempering gases, positioned gas supply manifolds spaced and opposing each other having pluralities of gas outlets in each compartment of said chamber, means for advancing a web between said manifold outlets, said web in passing between said manifolds being adapted to be subjected to gas impingement from said outlets, movable impervious gas deflecting curtains adapted to be predeterminedly selectively positioned relative to each respective manifold to deflect gases issuing therefrom, said curtains being supported for movement between said web and each of said manifolds about rotatable supports positioned within said chamber at the manifold ends, means for rotating said supports and said curtains in each compartment relative the respective manifold outlets for preventing gas impingement of the passing web, and said means being responsive to a predetermined temperature condition in each compartment of said chamber movably relatively positioning said curtains with respect to each of said manifolds.

8. A web processing apparatus including a chamber having at least two compartments wherein said web is adapted to be continuously subjected to heating and/or cooling tempering gases in each, positioned hot and cold gas supply manifolds spaced and opposing each other having pluralities of gas outlets in each compartment of said chamber, means for advancing a web between said manifolds and their outlets, said web in passing between said opposing manifolds being adapted to be subjected to either hot or cold gas impingement from said outlets, movable impervious gas defiecting curtains adapted to be predeterminedly selectively positioned relative to their respective manifolds so that while the web is subjected to a hot gas treatment the cooling gas is being occluded, said curtains being supported for movement about its respective manifold and between said web and said manifold outlets rotating about rotatable supports positioned within said chamber at the manifold ends, individual means for rotating said supports and said curtains in each compartment relative the respective manifold outlets for preventing gas impingement of the passing web, and each of said means being responsive to a predetermined temperature condition in each compartment of said chamber movably relatively positioning said curtains with respect to each of said manifolds.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,265,071 12/1941 Harten'bach 34l58 X 2,807,096 9/1957 Kullgren et a1. -34155 X 2,998,966 9/ 1961 Knight 26'350 X FREDERICK L. MATTESON, 111., Primary Examiner. JOHN J. CAMBY, Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD FOR HEAT PROCESSING A WEB MATERIAL BY SUBJECTING IT TO TEMPERING GASES COMPRISING, PASSING SAID MATERIAL BETWEEN OPPOSING MATERIAL IMPINGING GASES, ONE A HEATING GAS AND THE OTHER A COOLING GAS, AND DEFLECTING 